Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro invite you to a live internet chat about The Hobbit on May 24 (May 25 in Australia/NZ). Peter and Guillermo would love to answer your questions and hear your comments about our new adventure into Middle-Earth. please register now to make sure you don’t miss out on the Unexpected Party and get regular updates on the movies! Follow the registration link for instructions on submitting a question. Check out the rest of the story for chat times around the world and the text of PJ’s letter!

Weta are excited to be hosting this one-hour live online chat on our website www.wetaNZ.com. Please check the start time for your time zone below:

Several years ago - it seems a lifetime now - I invited 20 questions from fans right at the start of embarking on The Lord of the Rings trilogy. For me, it was an important and enjoyable moment, when I was able to begin a relationship that helped define our attitude to that unique project. It gave me a sense of responsibility that stayed etched in my brain for the next 5 years.

Well, the time has come again! With us right on the cusp of beginning pre-production on The Hobbit, and its companion movie, it seems fitting to do the same thing again.

It’s also fitting that our director, Guillermo Del Toro, will join me in answering the questions, since he will be bringing his considerable personal vision to these two movies. It’s my moment to hand the baton to Guillermo. It’s time for him to address your concerns.

So this is how it will work: we ask fans with an interest in The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings to send one question to this website. Ask us anything! Guillermo and I will select and answer the 20 most common questions, so we can both attempt to address the key issues as best we can.

Our answers will be released during a one hour live web chat, hosted by Weta, with both Guillermo and myself logged on. In addition to answering your 20 questions - for the entire hour, we’ll take additional live questions and chat about the projects with anybody who’s interested.

Please send us your questions and Register for the live chat - and we’ll talk to you in a couple of weeks.

Cheers,Peter Jackson

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To submit a question in advance

Simply go to the Unexpected Party homepage, log-in using the details from the email, then submit your question. Please note you may be prompted to upgrade your Java software – please follow the instructions or go to ParaChat support for more information.

It looks like the long wait for little Hobbit production is over, Lotr fans. Variety is reporting that preproduction is set to begin with "Team Hobbit" (Guillermo Del Toro, Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh) starting on the scripting of Hobbit: Part I and the sequel in the next few days. Previous reports confirmed that Del Toro would get to work on the script alongside the original creators of the Lord of the Rings trilogy when he was entering the last days before Hellboy II: The Golden Army hits theaters.

On another note, the team has already been in contact with certain actors whose characters are planned for the overall story. Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn), Ian McKellen (Gandalf) and Andy Serkis (Gollum). Those are the ones confirmed by the trade. If the plan is to split the films and have the timeline explained to the beginning of the original trilogy, it's likely that Hugo Weaving (Elrond), Christopher Lee (Saruman), Cate Blanchett (Galadriel) and some other former stars will also be invited back if they wish it. Del toro confirms below.

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"We will all be involved in the script in some fashion but the exact definition is about a week away, " said del Toro. "I am all for keeping the actors who originated the parts, as much as availability and their willingness will allow."

The Hobbit: Part I will hit theaters sometime in winter 2010 while Part II will hit theaters in winter 2011.

IGN caught up with director Guillermo Del Toro this morning and tried to get a scoop on when we can expect a casting announcement for ‘The Hobbit:’

When asked if fan favourite James McAvoy had bagged the the Bilbo Baggins role, he replied: “Not yet. Not yet James McAvoy, not yet Jack Black, or Daniel Radcliffe. There’s nothing to fear or celebrate yet.

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“In six months time we should know,” he continued. “We will try to give that casting news at Christmas as a gift.”

EW.com has posted an article addressing the prevalence of spoilers on the internet, and Guillermo del Toro chimes with a comment about the upcoming ‘Hobbit:’

Pan’s Labyrinth director Guillermo del Toro plans on being pretty transparent as he embarks on The Hobbit.

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“It’s easier to protect the 20 percent of a project that’s really sensitive if you’re open about the other 80 percent,” he says. “I think that’s the way to go, especially with a project like The Hobbit, which is a holy book for so many people. People should know the path you’re walking.”

A quick note about TheOneRing.net and spoilers (if you are new hear) - we do post them but give you ample warning to choose not to read them. Please read the full article at EW.com. Thanks to Silverlode for the heads up on this story. [Read More]